Report: Evangelicals, Donors Pressured Trump to Make Jerusalem Move

Source: The Daily Beast

President Trumpís decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel came after persistent prodding by wealthy donors who supported him during his campaign, The New York Times reports. While Trump on Wednesday touted the move as a necessary step toward peace in the Middle East, his frequent meetings with Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson in the months before of the decision suggest he may have been trying to please supporters, the Times suggests. Adelson, a longtime donor to pro-Israel groups and advocate of moving the U.S. embassy, had reportedly phoned a friend 10 days before Trump took office to announce the soon-to-be president had promised to make the matter a priority. Adelson, who donated $20 million to a political action committee that supported Trumpís campaign, pushed Trump to keep his word and move the embassy. Trump was reportedly also under pressure by representatives of evangelical Christian groups. Ahead of his announcement Wednesday, the White House held two calls with religious leaders to inform them of Trumpís decision, with major Trump allies like Ralph Reed, the founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Mike Evans, a Christian Zionist, among those to be given a heads up, according to the report.

12. I wonder how they will feel when the rapture is a nuclear blast that will

3. Of course it was...

To the Evangelicals, this move might help bring about the end times....to people like Adelson, the motivation is no less disgusting in that he views this as a way of further reducing the rights of Palestinians in the region...both are disgusting.

As for Trump, I fear this isnít just about appeasing donors, but he knows this has the potential to spark a new war in the Middle East, which will serve as a means to distract and deflect from the Russia investigation...plus help his poll numbers in the process.

8. He only just did it!

10. The Palestinians...

had almost no rights to begin with. They've been continually treated inhumanly by the Israeli government for decades. Instead of the unconditional and unwavering support for our "ally" (USS Liberty incident, espionage operations conducted against the United States, etc.) Israel, there needs to be a more balanced approached to our Middle East policy that recognizes and respects all cultures and religions in that region.

11. So how would this lead to them having less rights?

14. It would no longer...

be possible for the Palestinians to have East Jerusalem as their Capital as Israel would control and dominate the entire city. The Palestinians have a rightful claim to this sacred city and it should remain open and free for all religious beliefs. Unfortunately, the Israeli government has a history of bias and discriminatory practices.

18. Really? It was under the Jordanians

when THEY occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank that discriminated and wouldn't let Jews pray at their holiest site. Israel not only allows ALL people to pray, it gave power of those sites to the Palestinians - who still try and make the area Jewish history free.

19. The Israeli government..

has been engaged in a campaign of genocide against the Palestinians for decades, which is ironic considering the experiences of some Israelis during the Holocaust. Their indecent and inhuman treatment of the Palestinians breeds generational hatred and is the single, most significant contributor to the instability in that region.

22. Bullshit

Comparing the Israeli with nazis is so ridiculous, so untrue, you should be embarrassed to even make the claim. Since the population of Palestininians continues to explode (not a pun but easily could be), and they have representation in government and ALL citizens have the right to vote, you're either stunningly ignorant of the nazis or just like throwing around hyperbolic bullshit.

Obviously the FACTS that they could have had a state 70 years ago and don't due to their own thirst to drive Jews into the sea, having leaders that are disgustingly corrupt and would rather buy weapons or build tunnels than build schools or hospitals for their own people is completely ignored by you. People like you think they deserve infinite do overs for decisions they make. You are part of the problem, you treat them like children. I'm sure you'll find some reason to blame Israel for al Assad murdering his own, for isis blowing up Shia people and mosques, Because you ignore history, you aren't an honest broker on this subject. You just engage in hyperbolic BULLSHIT.

23. Your hatred....

for anyone or group critical of the criminal actions of the Israeli government is disturbing and counter productive. In the future, try taking a breath and disengage your emotions before responding with a disjointed tirade. Also, please refrain from the personal attacks as I'm entitled to express my opinions even though they be contrary to your perceived "facts". And one additional item - I had family members that were murdered during the Holocaust, so NEVER EVER lecture me about making any such statement related to that subject!!!

24. Spare me the drama queen BS

You compared them to nazis - you weren't giving a reasoned argument - I've given those myself against the loathed bibi - you comparing Israeli's to nazis and using the word genocide proved you have no reasoned argument to make. It's people like you that make words lose all meaning.

5. evangelicals and ultra-right Jews

unholy alliance.

And the almost funny part is that each group thinks it is "using" the other to further their goals.

Evangelicals think that there has to be a Jewish state in Israel with Jerusalem as the capital ( and a new temple built ) to bring about the end of the world ( and condemning any unconverted Jews to eternal damnation ) while the Jews think that God has given them Jerusalem as their "right" and they want to build a "greater Israel".

Both groups argue for the same intermediate goal (Jerusalem is the capital of Israel AND is wholly controlled by Jews) but they both see this as biblical prophecy fulfilled and the ultimate destruction (or at least elimination) of other "non-believers".

If it wasn't for the people who are going to die in the coming days and months as the Palestinians and Arab world react to the loss of hope (however small it was) that THEIR holy site would return to Muslim control... this whole situation would be funny.

17. So did Schumer

20. If Adelson is concerned about Israel

why doesn't he move their an use his money to help them instead of US giving them money. After all we have American citizens that need help with food, shelter and "health care". Oh, I forgot the majority of Americans can't donate 20 million dollars to the cons campaign. My bad.

21. Evangelical hypocrites.

They created the false myths of rapture and the third temple being built which would trigger the tribulations and bring Christ's Second Coming.

Despite long before them, no such theology existed or was contemplated. In fact, prior to Islamic control of the Temple Mount, it was a trash heap...as a testament to the "failed" Jewish Religion of God by the Christians.

It was the Muslims who restored the Temple Mount from a place to dump your refuse to a place of religious worship. A lot of this BS about Rapture, the Tribulations, etc. came about in the 1800's by "false" prophets. Of course they don't call them "prophesies"....you know, just in case they are wrong. But if you point out the flaws in the theology by the Evangelicals, they explode with all fire and brimstone and call you a heretic....as if Rapture, etc. has all been set in stone already. I won't call them fools, the Bible warns against it, but I will use another term "stiff-necked", "hypocrite", "brood of vipers", etc.